Seedlip, what to drink when you are not drinking

The nonalcoholic spirit Seedlip made from botanicals was created by British Ben Branson who experimented with his garden and distillation and was inspired by The Art of Distillation, a book written in 1651 detailing apothecaries’ distilled non-alcoholic herbal remedies.

After 3 years in the UK, Seedlip hit the US by storm a year ago popping up in some of the best hotels, restaurants, and bars in Los Angeles and across the nation’s major cities to give people a refreshing alternative from disgustingly sweet to ‘what do you drink when you are not drinking.’

At a recent cocktail making class with the Seedlip founder Ben and bartender extraordinaire Josh Curtis from Carbon Beach Club at Malibu Beach Inn, we learned how to easily make a nonalcoholic Spice Mule and Seedlip Sour. To enhance Seedlip, you don’t need much. Lemon or lime juice, simple syrup or ginger syrup, and soda water seem to be the key ways to accentuate these incredibly delicious essences – Think essence of Spice 94 (aromatic), Garden 108 (herbal), and now the new Grove 42 (citrus).

Spice 94 may be my favorite blend due to the aromatic Jamaican allspice berry and cardamom distillates with two barks and citrus finish reminding me of a Moscow mule or holiday drink. Experiment with your own mixers, like a dash of ginger ale or, just serve with tonic and a grapefruit peel.

The gorgeous label design on Garden displays a rabbit made from herbs used in the mix. The Garden 108 is a floral blend of handpicked peas and homegrown Hay from Ben’s farm with traditional garden herb distillates celebrating the English countryside. Serve with tonic and a sugar snap pea or cucumber slice as garnish.

The Grove 42 can be simply served with tonic and a twist of orange peel due to its orange and Mandarin peel and pith top notes with juicy Blood Orange undertones opening up to a stalky, grassy character. Clean, fresh notes of Ginger and Lemongrass offer a dry finish with a subtle Peppercorn prickle.

No sugar added. No hangover. No calories.

Try making one of these NA Cocktails:

Spice Mule

2 oz of Seedlip Spice 94

3/4 oz fresh ginger syrup

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Combine Seedlip, lime juice, and ginger syrup in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with soda and gently stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Seedlip Sour

2 oz Seedlip Garden 108

3/4 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake five times vigorously and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cucumber wheel.

With my own recent fertility woes and the large percentage of people in AA in LA plus the fact that being healthy is always IN in Los Angeles, who really wants to be hungover anyway? Seedlip is your answer. Each drink feels like a refreshing cocktail, but without the poison.

Seedlip to the rescue!

Cheers.

Find Seedlip at select Whole Foods in Southern California, all 12 Bristol Farm locations in Southern California, all 5 Lazy Acres stores, Farmshop in Santa Monica, the Co-op market in Culver City and Santa Monica, Broome St. General, and Flask and Field.